How Long Does It Take to Open a Children’s Home?

A Realistic Timeline for New Providers (2025 Expert Guide)**

Prospective providers often ask:

“How long will it take to open my children’s home?”

While Ofsted historically aims for 16 weeks, the real-world picture is far more complex. Demand for new registrations is high, inspectors are managing significant caseloads, and delays are increasingly common.

This guide breaks down each stage — and includes Ofsted quotes and regulations to ground expectations in compliance reality.

1.Your Property: The First Determining Factor

The very first factor that determines speed is your property.

• If you already have C2 planning permission

You can begin preparing your Ofsted registration immediately.

• If you do not have planning

You must complete this step before you can operate.

Planning Application Timescales (Typical)

• Preparation / architects / planning consultants: 2–3 weeks

• Certificate of Lawfulness (CLEUD): ~8 weeks

• Full Planning Permission: 6 weeks (often longer)

Local authority delays are now frequent.

2. Preparing Your Ofsted Registration (SC1 / SC2)

You can begin the process of preparing your SC1 (organisation) and SC2 (manager) even while planning is underway.

Ofsted’s own guidance states:

“You must submit a complete application with all required documents before Ofsted can begin the registration assessment.”

Ofsted: Apply to register a children’s home

This means every document must be aligned, accurate and personalised to your service.

Key regulatory requirements:

Regulation 5 — Engaging with the wider system

Your location risk assessment must demonstrate consideration of local risks, police data, and the child’s safety within the community.

Regulation 12 — The protection of children

Your property and internal environment must reduce risks and promote safety.

Regulation 23 — Medicines

Environmental planning must consider safe storage, staff access and secure record keeping.

Regulation 25 — Fire precautions

Fire safety must be understood beyond simply “having fire doors”.

Regulation 28 — Fitness of the Registered Manager

The RM must have:

• Relevant experience

• Appropriate training

• Leadership capability

• Understanding of children’s needs and legislation

A weak or unprepared RM is one of the top causes of delays.

3. Leadership Recruitment: A Major Source of Delay

If you meet the requirements of Regulation 28, naming yourself as RM speeds up the process.

If not — like many new providers — you must recruit both your:

• Registered Manager (SC2)

• Responsible Individual (SC1)

Ofsted requires a named manager before they can complete your assessment:

“We cannot progress or decide an application without an identified manager.” — Ofsted Registration Guidance

Given national demand for experienced RMs, recruitment alone often adds 4–12 weeks to a project.

4. Preparing Registration Documents (Policies, Location Risk, Property Safety)

Many providers underestimate how long this takes.

A full SC1 submission can include 150–300+ pages, covering:

• Statement of Purpose (Regulation 16 requirement)

• Safeguarding policy (Regulation 12)

• Behaviour policy (Regulation 11)

• Workforce plan (Regulation 32)

• Staff training plan (Regulation 33)

• Property safety & suitability assessment (Regulation 12 & 6)

• Location risk assessment (Regulation 5)

If documents are generic or not aligned, Ofsted will issue queries.

Ofsted is explicit about personalisation:

“Policies and documents must be personal to the home and demonstrate how you will meet children’s needs.”

Ofsted: Guide to Registration

5. Submission to Ofsted

Once your SC1 and SC2 are submitted:

What Ofsted does next:

• Reviews documents

• Raises queries

• Checks leadership suitability

• Schedules the interview

• Conducts the property assessment (post-registration)
• Issues a decision

Ofsted’s stated timeline:

“We aim to make a registration decision within 16 weeks of receiving a complete application.”

Ofsted: Register a children’s home

Reality in 2024–2025:

20–28+ weeks is typical.

Inspector workload and rising demand have stretched capacity well beyond the target window.

6. Expect Queries — They Are Normal

Almost all providers receive Ofsted queries.

Common areas Ofsted challenge include:

6. Location risk assessment (Reg 5)

6. Behaviour & restraint policy (Reg 11)

6. Staff qualifications & training (Reg 32)

6. Safeguarding arrangements (Reg 12)

6. Manager’s experience and competence (Reg 28)

6. Property layout, supervision and staffing safety (Reg 12 & 6) This is not a sign of a weak application — it is standard practice. What matters is your speed and accuracy of response.

6. Registration Interview (Manager & RI)

Ofsted will interview:

• The Registered Manager

• The Responsible Individual

• Leadership (Regulation 27)

• Understanding of regulations

• Scenario-based safeguarding responses

• The home’s Statement of Purpose

• Behaviour management approaches

• Staffing competence and supervision

Unprepared managers risk delays, repeated interviews or further challenges.

8. Decision Stage

After interviews, Ofsted aims to make a decision within 10–15 working days.

However, delays occur when:

• Inspectors require additional clarification

• Evidence needs further review

• Manager experience is borderline

• Document changes are required

Realistic Timeline Summary

Best-case scenario:

4–6 months

Typical scenario:

7–12 months (most providers)

Worst-case scenario:

12–18 months (planning delays + recruitment delays + Ofsted delays)

What You Can Control (and What You Can’t)

You can control:

• Document quality

• Speed of preparation

• Recruitment process

• Strength of SC1 / SC2

• Location risk assessment quality

• Manager interview readiness

• Property safety planning

You cannot control:

• Planning delays

• Local authority backlogs

• Ofsted inspector capacity
• National application volume

• Decision-making timeframes

This is why structured project management and experienced consultancy support make a significant difference.

How Outsource 24 Reduces Delays

We support or manage:

• Planning stage preparation

• Location risk assessment (Regulation 5)

• Property suitability and safety assessment (Reg 12 & 6)

• Full SC1 & SC2 documentation

• Policies & procedures tailored to your home (Reg 16)

• Recruitment & safer recruitment

• RM interview preparation

• Responding to Ofsted queries

We cannot make Ofsted work faster — but we can prevent 80% of common provider delays.

Final Thought

Opening a children’s home is a complex regulatory process with many moving parts. It isn’t quick — but it is manageable with the right structure, preparation and support.

With Outsource 24, you can navigate the process confidently and avoid costly setbacks.